Customer Reviews

Whiskey Store Live

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The CD is so hot that it may burn your hands off just holding it. The guitar playing of Beniot and Thackery are just fantastic. This little known CD should be in any blues or rockers' collection. The vocals are surprisingly good and the backup is "all pro." This is one of the best live recordings I've heard in a long time. I hope they come out with more!

Former front man for the Nighthawks Jim Thackery and Louisiana sensation Tab Benoit get together with the dream team of Charlie Musselwhite on harp, Reese Wynans on B3, Tommy Shannon on bass and Chris Layton on drums for an exceptional release which has plenty of emotion and fiery guitar. Covering the songs of Colin Linden, Percy Mayfield, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Neil Young and a smattering of originals, including a remake of Benoit's slow burner "Nice and Warm", the duo moves effortlessly through the material as if all of the songs were their own. It's not often that collaborations come together this smooth, but when it does the result is beyond expectations. The only thing better would be to see this line up in a concert setting. One of the years best!

After playing a few select festival dates together the past couple of years it comes as no surprise that Jimmy Thackery and Tab Benoit finally got together in the studio to cut one hell of a record together. The name of this gem is Whiskey Store and is brought to you by the Telarc label and producer Randy Labbe who have been throwing the dice for a few years now on different groupings and pairings of artists and coming up with 7's and 11's. They truly hit the jackpot this time around. These two string bending road warriors are in top notch form for about an hours worth of some finely crafted axe slinging, backed by Double Trouble, Reese Wynans and harp virtuoso Charlie Musselwhite. You can bet your last dollar that there is plenty of bone shaking blues to be found here but this is not by any stretch of the imagination the same ole twelve bar blues you might expect so dismiss that thought immediately. Jimmy and Tab have chosen to put their own unique spin on some very familiar tunes from the rock world with Thackery taking the lead on stunning versions of Dylan's "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," and The Stones "The Last Time," which actually has both guys harmonizing vocally. Benoit fronts a countrified version of Neil Young's "Unknown Legend," that can only be described as simply gorgeous with Musselwhite adding some delicate harp licks to it. Tab also serves up a glowing reworking of his own "Nice and Warm," which in my opinion rivals the original. Thackery is in the drivers seat (no pun intended) for the rough and tumble opening number,"I Ain't Broke" which has both guys ripping off some intense licks but it's Jimmy doing about 100 mph with Reese Wynans seemingly adding a few more keys to his piano that grabs your ear. Percy Mayfield's "Strange Things Happen" is given a fabulous arrangement with the whole band just plain cooking and Musselwhite jumping in for few well placed fills which he also does on "Bad Luck Blues" a slow blues number handled expertly by Benoit. The crown jewel of this collection is undoubtedly the heartfelt swinging tribute to Freddy King entitled "Freddy's Combo." As I sat and listened to this intense jam, my arms fell off, my legs fell off, my head sort of detached itself and went rolling across the room and... well I think you kinda get the idea of what I am trying to say about "Freddy's Combo." The album closes with a terrific little shuffle "Bone Pickin'" from Benoit that could have easily fit onto either of his last two albums with it's down home feel and fine picking. The albums title track is a soul searching ditty comparing a women to a whiskey store with some moody changes and a few slick guitar runs set around Tab's haunting crying vocals. After listening to this album so many times that my wife may kill me at this point, I can honestly say that I would be surprised if it doesn't skyrocket to the top of the blues charts. Both of the principles have never sounded better, the band is well.. Double Trouble for gods sake! They are flawless throughout as is Charlie Musselwhite and Reese Wynans. I mean hell when you add up all the years, miles and experience these fellas collectively have it boggles the mind the same way this remarkable recording will. I only hope that there will be a sequel to this one as I found myself chomping at the bit for more as soon as the last track was played. Get to your nearest retailer and crack open Whiskey Store and take a big drink of one of this years tastiest brews, but be forewarned it is dangerously intoxicating in the best of all possible ways!

I saw Whiskey Store Live at Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk Blues & Music Festival and was "blown away". Fantastic in a word. The Whiskey Store Live CD is just like being live in concert with them. The CD & music is "Smokin Hot". The CD should be in every blues lovers CD collection. Crank it up and let the music fly, you will tell all your blues lover friends to buy it.

Fellow blues lovers don't make mistakes, this is a GREAT BLUS ALBUM! Having said that I would like to tell you that I totally agree with our friend the "blues drummer". This is "mostly just a 12 bars blues" album, and that's exactly the reason why I bought it! So if you don't like the blues, or if you are more "rock" or "rock-blues" oriented don't buy it and follow his advice: Coco Montoya would be a better choice for you, but if you like the blues as I do, well do not hesitate a second and buy it. Not a bad tune on this CD, the only one that sounds out of place is the Neil Young's ballad "Unknown Legend" (nice song anyway). Jimmy and Tab are in great form and they play, as you would expect, brilliantly through out the entire album, while the band (the best rhythm section in the business) perform at their usual standard. Very hard to point out a "favourite" tune, however the version of the classic Tab's number "Nice and warm" is absolutely unbelievable and by itself it worth the purchase price. The original version in Tab's firs album is great, but this one, from my point of view, is even better, and if the final solo of Jimmy doesn't grab your gut...well forget even Coco Montoya and start looking for some Donna Summer's stuff! "Whiskey store" and "Bad luck blues" are two strong slow numbers on which Tab take the lead, while Jimmy deliver a "killer" version of the Bob Dylan's "Leopard-skin pill-box hat". In conclusion if you like the blues, and especially if you like it very much guitar driven, well guys this is the album you were looking for! My rate: 5 stars!

This is first and foremost a Tab Benoit album. Jimmy appears, in my view, more as a mentor and a super strong talent in the background. The songs are mostly Tab's, as are the vocals. A good effort, and fun to listen to. If your interest is primarily in Jimmy Thackery, the far superior guitarist of the two, you will appreciate Freddy's Combo, a typical Thackery song (if there is such a thing)....along with some of his backup guitar work. But this is no "Drive to Survive", for example.

What can I say about this record that the editorial reviewer and the top 500 reviewer haven't already said? Well, not much I suppose, but I'll try. this record is simply amazing from start to finish. I really can't find a bad track on it. the musicianship of all players is absolutely top notch. Tab's voice has developed some grit over the years which really has elevated his vocals to a new level. Jimmy is an okay vocalist and he does not embarrass himself on this record, but you won't find yourself going, "wow! That guy can sing" like you will when tab grabs the mic. Jimmy's guitar playing is simply on fire through this whole record. His intense firy style of playing combined with tab's more pick-heavy style similar to the late T-Bone walker make for a true guitar experience to be heard. I love the opening track, "I Ain't Broke." It is a sizzling rock and roll burner with some great guitar and piano work. Their interpretation of "Strange Things" is also a highlight with some nice harp work and a killer groove laid down by chris and Tommy. I am serious when I give this record my vote as the record of the year. Play it loud. Play it soft. it works either way. Whatever you do, just buy it and play it! You'll love it!

both tab and jimmy are great when playing by themselves but who knew they would be so powerful together. songs are great and their leads mesh very well.

loved this album. fabulous sound, strong guitars, made me want to dance. If you like either of these guys doing their own thing, you'll love this combination.

Why can't we get albums like this in Australia? I heard the album played on one of our only three blues radio shows one night. Of course I had to order it here because the record companies don't see much of a market here in Australia for good Blues. Every one of my friends who heard it wanted a copy, such is the dirth of good Blues here. "Whisky Store" is a new style of Blues to me, though reminiscent of Dave Hole's early stuff. Bob Dylan's "Leopard Skin Pill Box Hat" was so deep in rich music, I felt sure that each member of the band was probably experimenting as they played and enjoying themselves too. "I aint Broke" is the opening song to set you in the mood for good, rollicking Blues. "Away, Away Too Long" is a bouncy song for those who want to swing their booties or simply tap their feet to the rhythm. I loved the whole album.